If you were like me, around 7:00 PM yesterday your browser was fixed on the Virginia State Board of Elections website as results began to pour in from around the state. Unlike traditional Republican against Democrat contests, I had no strong perception of which cities and counties would go toward what kind of candidate. In the early moments and until about 60% or so of precincts had reported, Matthew Berry maintained a lead in the 8th. Although he ended up winning both Arlington and Alexandria, his loss in Fairfax County and, to a lesser extent, Falls Church led to his downfall. Another interesting statistic in this contest was voter turnout. Every district statewide had at least 6% turnout with the 2nd district exceeding 9%. The 8th was the exception where turnout was only slightly above 3%. 3%! I know there aren’t nearly as many Republicans in Northern Virginia as there are in the Shenandoah Valley, but 3%? Only 13,787 voters determined the result. Now I’m not saying that one more voter would have made a difference, but only 522 more dedicated Berry voters could have swung this election the other way. Turnout, turnout, turnout! Turnout is key in these sparsely attended elections. Then again, given their voting patterns, maybe there are only 13,787 Republican voters in the suburbs of D.C.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about the results. Berry didn’t win nor did a few others I would have liked to see victorious, but there were a few bright spots in the evening.